Surgical instrument



June 15, 1937." B, o, FREZI ES 2 ,084,195

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 8, 1936 INVENTOR BERTRAND O. FREZIERES ATTORNEY Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to instruments for use in autopsies and my object is to provide a simple and cheaply manufactured instrument for holding the head of a body being operated upon. Other objects will appear as the description progresses.

Figure l is a view showing the instrument in position with respect to the head being operated upon.

Although I show the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not thereby limit myself to the precise form shown, but wish it understood that within the scope of what hereinafter is claimed, various changes in the precise shape and other details of construction may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The device comprises a yoke l; a thumb screw 2 provided with a point 3 and mounted in each end portion of said yoke; a shank 4 extending from the yoke I; and a handle provided with a pair of grips 5.

In use the yoke I is placed about a head H and the points 3 of the thumb screws 2 are set into the bone only firmly enough to prevent slipping, as shown in Figure 1.

With this instrument the operating surgeon or an assistant can hold the head H firmly in the proper position while the skull is being sawed. When the back side of the head H is being sawed,

the instrument is turned up forward on the pivotal points 3 of the thumb screws 2. When the front side of the head H is being sawed, the instrument is turned down backward. In any and all positions, the instrument allows free 5 access to the saw and the operator, and holds the head H with a non-slipping hold.

What I claim as new is:

1. A surgical instrument for use in autopsies, comprising a yoke; and a pointed thumb screw mounted in each end portion of said yoke so that both thumb screws have a common axis; said yoke being adapted to be disposed about the skull to be operated upon, and said thumb screws being adapted to be set into said skull directly above the ears so as to provide facilities for turning and holding said skull in any desired angle while said skull is being sawed.

2. A surgical instrument for use inv autopsies, comprising a yoke provided with a shank; and a pointed thumb screw mounted in each end portion of said yoke, said thumb screws being disposed substantially concentrically; said yoke being adapted to be disposed about the skull to be operated upon and said thumb screws being adapted to be set into said skull directly above the ears so as to permit said yoke to be swung out of the way of the surgeons saw.

BERTRAND O. FREZIERES. 

